Tonsil-removing apparatus



I 1,615,494 Jan. 25, 1927- J L.. WARING TONS IL REMOVING APPARATUS Filed 06T.. 12. 1922 John .Warz'ng Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN L. WARING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TONSIL-REMOVING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,045.

This invention resides in a novel apparatus and method for the removal of tonsils surgically.

The outstanding advantages of the invention are simplicity of structure, rapidity of operation, and the practically bloodless operation obtained. The apparatus is appli- .cable equally well to general or local throat anesthetic operations. The invention in its broader aspects requires no new apparatus over existing types and may be used with any of the ringed, looped or snare-typed tonsillotomes.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises a tube, having one end formed into a bulbous enlargement, the mouth of the enlargement being tapered somewhat inwardly towards the axis of the mouth. Suction is applied to the other end of the tube. The bulbous end is placed over the tonsil to be removed, and the suction will draw the tonsil from its bed and hold it lirmly in the bulbous end of the tube. A snare, or looped wire, is

now drawn across the mouth of the bulbous end of the tube so as to pinch or enucleate the tonsil from the throat.

More specifically, the invention is directed to the inward taper of the bulbous portion of the tube. This taper assures the proper operation of the snare or loop by colnpelling the movement of the wire downwardly and across the tonsil to be removed. In tubes at present in use which do not have the inward taper at the mouth, the snare is liable to slide downwardly or' the tube and away from the tonsil.

The invention further has withinv its province the combination with a tube, of a snare device, the whole forming aconvenient and compact apparatus for the removal of the tonsils.

To make the invention more clear, an embodiment thereof(` has been illustrated in the drawing forming part of this application. The invention in its broad aspects is not, however, to be limited by the drawing. Its scope will be delined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a face view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a face view showing an oval shaped mouth.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts in the figures.

Numeral 1 indicates a tube, made of any desired material. This tube has an end 2 adapted to be connected to a suction device 5, so that a suction may be created in tube 1. The other end of tube 1 is formed into a bulbous enlargement 3 having a mouth 4- which curves inwardly towards the axis of the enlargement, thus forming a mouth of reduced diameter and providing a sloping portion upon which the snare or loop which enucleates the tonsil will slide. PositionedV around the bulbous portion 3 in proximity to the downwardly sloping portion 4, is a wire loop or snare 6. The lower portions of the loop, 7 and S, run through a tubelike element 9 which is attached in any desired manner to tube 1 or formed integrally with tube 1. Emerging from said tube y9, as at 10 and 11, the wire loops around the tube 1 and passes through a hole 12 in the lever 13. Said lever is pivoted at 14 to a bracket 15 attached to tube 1. A spring-like element 1G, attached to the lever 17, and abutting against tube 1, serves to hold the lever in its removal position as shown in Fig. 1.

The structure having been set out, its operations will now be described.

Tube l is placed in the mouth so that the portion 4 is over the tonsil to be removed. The patient may be under a local or general anesthetic. Suction is applied at end 2 through any desiredmeans, such as a suction pump. The suction created will draw the tonsil from its bed in the throat, and hold it lirmly within the bulbous portion 3. The cross section of this portion may be oval or round to suit any particular type of tonsil. *With the tonsil thus firmly held, the lever 13 is depressed. This movement of the lever will draw the wires of the loop down through tube 9 and downwardly ot the inclined portion d of the bulbous part 3 of tube 1. AsA the depression of lever 13 continues, the wire snare will move completely 01T portion l and downwardly across the tonsil to be removed. As the snare loop is tightened down, the tonsil is practically everted, turned almost wrong side out, and enucleated from the throat. clearly, smoothly, and with practically no bleeding or damage to the throat or its structures.

The bulbous portion may, of course, be of any diameter, and the apparatus formed of any material desired. The snare operating portion of the apparatus, need not necessarily be used with the tube, as the tube is adapted to be used with any or' the existing forms of snares. The combination of snare IUI) lll)

and tube described and shown in this ease is, however, held'to be a more eiiicient and convenient apparatus.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a tonsil removing device, tube like clement, one end of said tube being adapted for attachment to a suction device, the other end ot' said tube being bent over and formed into a bulbous portion, said portion curving inwaildly towards its mouth whereby a snare may be slipped over the end of the bulbous portion by a pull in a direction at right angles to the bulbous portion.

2. In a tonsil removing device, in combination, a tube having one end formed into a bulbous portion having an inwardly tapering mouth, anda wire snare or loop operative to move downwardly of said taper and across the mouth of said bulbous portion.

3. In a device of the classv described, in combination, a tube, one end of said tube being adapted for attachment to a suction creating device, the other end of said tube being formed into a bulbous portion pro* vided with a mouth at one end thereof, a wire snare-or loop mounted on said bulbous portion, and means mounted on said tube for drawing the snare or loop across the mouth of said bulbous end.

Ll. In adevice ofthe class described, in combination, a tube, one end of said tube be` ing formed into a bulbous portion provided with a mouth at one end thereof which tapers outwardly for most of its length, and then tapers inwardly towards the mouth of the tube, a wire snare or loop mounted on said bulbous portion, a lever .mounted on said tube, said snare being attached to said lever, a springdike element to hold said lever in its normal position, said lever when depressed being operative to move said snare along said inwardly tapering portion and across the mouth ofthe tube.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a tube of generally tapered form, one end of said tube being adapted to be connected to a suction device, the other end of said tube being bent and forming a bulbous portion provided with a mouth at one endthereof which tapers outwardly for the major portion of its length, and then tapers inwardly towards its mouth for the rest of its length, a wire loop or snare, one end of saidloop or snare fit-ting over the inwardly tapering portion of said bulbous end, a tubular element attached to said tube, said snare running through said tubular element, a lever pivoted on said tube, the other end of said snareencirclingl said tube and run ning` through one end of said lever, and resilient means to urge said lever to its normal position.

6. As an article of manufacture, a tonsil tube comprising a tube, of generally tapering form, one end of said tube adapted to be attached to a suction device, the other end of said tube forming a bulbous bent over portion, said portion tapering inwardly near its mouth whereby a snare may be slipped over the end of the bulbous portion by a pull in a direction at right angles to the bulbous portion.

7. As an article of manufacture, a tube, one end of said tube being of bulbous form, a snare or loop, one end of said snare or loop being mounted on said bulbous end, a lever mounted on said tube, the other end of said snare or loop encircling said tube and attached to one end of said lever.

8. In a tonsil removing device, a gradually tapering tube, one end of said tube beingbent at an angle to the tube and formed into a bulbous portion, the end of said bulbous portion tapering slightly inward whereby a snare may be slipped over the end of the bulbous portion by a pull in a direction at right angles to the bulbous portion.

9. A tonsillotome comprising a suction tube adapted to receive a tonsil and means for eXcising the tonsil attached to said tube to form a unitary structure therewith.

l0. In a device of the class described, in combination, a tube, one end of the said tube being adapted for attachment to a suction creating device, the other end of said tube being formed into a bulbous portion provided with a mouth at one end thereof, a wire snare or loop mounted on said bulbous portion, and means mounted on said tube for drawing the snare or loop across the mouth of said bulbous end, at right angles to the axis of the tube.

ll. In a device of the class described, in combination, a tube, one end of said tube being formed into al bulbous. portion provided with a mouth atA one end thereof, which tapers outwardly for most of its length, and then tapers inwardly towards the mouth of the tube, a wire snare or loop mounted on said bulbous portion, a lever mounted on said tube, said snare being attached to said lever, a spring-like element to hold said lever in its normal position, said lever when depressed being operative to move said snare along` said inwardly tapering portion and across the mouth of the tube, at right angles to the axis of the tube.

l2. As an article of manufacture, a tube, one end of saidtube being of bulbous form, a snare or loop, one end of said snare or loop being mounted on said bulbous end at right angles to the axis ot the tube, a lever on said tube, the other end of said snare or loop encircling said tube and attacheil to one end of the said lever.

In testimony whereof I' affix my signall ture.

JOHN L. VVARING. 

